CAD (Cardboard Aided Design)

I know that I’m not the first one to come up with the idea, but much like graph paper is cheaper than lumber, cardboard is cheaper than any other building materials; especially when you keep your empty cereal boxes.

I’ve got this metal parts organizer in the garage. The biggest problem with it is that stuff gets lost in the back. I decided to make bins so I could easily get everything out. The perfect material would be sheet metal, but I’ve never worked with sheet metal before. Enter CAD.

I’ve made three prototypes, and finally got my design where I want it. My out of pocket expense is, some blue tape, three empty cereal boxes and a utility knife blade, so zero dollars. Now it’s time to get some metal and start making bins.

In the past, I’ve used cereal boxes & tape to dummy up lots of projects. The original camp kitchen idea was done in cardboard. This exercise proved that the vision I came up with while high was not something I could achieve and led to the simpler version that I originally built from wood.

I always keep a few empty boxes in the shop, you never know when you’re going to mock something up.

Author: rexplex

With a bachelors degree in history, I turn wrenches for a living. I’m most at peace when I hear the wind in the trees or the gurgle of a brook. I’m a believer in the Renaissance Man, as epitomized by DaVinci engineer, artist, soldier, statesman. As Heinlein said, “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” View all posts by rexplex